Across Enemy Lines

Chapter 8

The sun was shining brightly through the trees as I sat quietly on a bench in the garden. The smell of roses and jasmine floated in the air as I took my first sip of coffee. The bitter taste lingered on my tongue as I closed my eyes, enjoying the solitude.

"Mommy! Mommy!" My eyes snapped open as I spun around to see a little boy with dark brown hair and electric green eyes running straight toward me. I smiled gently at the small child as he stopped, leaning his little arms on my lap. I ran my hand down the side of his small soft face, mesmerized by his perfection as he giggled at me.

"You know, Chloe Lynn, he's going to be here soon." My head jerked up. A tall woman with gray hair and startling purple eyes was walking toward me. I looked down and the boy was gone.

"Where did he go?" I panicked.

"Don't worry, Chloe. He's still around." She smiled kindly and took her seat next to me.

"Who are you?" I stared wildly at the woman. Her laughter filled the air like a song.

"Don't you know who I am, child?"

"No. No, not really."

"I am the one who made you." She smiled lovingly at me. I just stared blankly at her. She sighed.

"You call me, the Goddess… but I prefer Serena." My eyes grew wide with shock.

"Goddess? Like THE Goddess?" She giggled.

"Yes but I prefer, Serena."

"Serena?"

"Yes?"

"Why Jared Black? Of all the people in all the world, you chose him. Why?" She smiled at me.

"Why not?"

"Why not? Why not? Because he's my enemy, that's why not!"

"No he's not." She smirked.

"His father is!"

"No he's not. He's your father's enemy."

"My father's enemy is my enemy! And he's the son of the enemy!" Serena sighed.

"You mortals are so wrapped up in trivial bullshit. Chloe, let me ask you a question. Have you ever asked WHY your father hates Liam so much?"

"Well, no. But-"

"No buts! Ask him." She stood and began walking towards the forest.

"Serena!"

"Yes?"

"I'm scared." She walked back and stooped down in front of me. She grabbed my hands and her eyes began to glow.

"Chloe Lynn, I visited you because what you're about to face will be hard. When things get hard remember why you're fighting and remember I'm always with you." With that she stood and walked off towards the forest. Before she disappeared she turned back to me.

"Chloe?"

"Yes, Serena?" She smiled.

"Wake up."

I jolted up in bed. I could feel my heart racing and a thin layer of sweat coated my face.

"What's wrong princess?" Jared said, sleepily.

"I just had the weirdest dream…"

"'Bout what?" He yawned.

"There was a little boy… and I spoke to the Goddess…"

"I told you not to eat that ice cream last night." I frowned at him.

"Maribel?" I spoke through the mind-link.

"Hey, who you talk-"

"Shhhhh…"

"Uggggg!" Jared groaned.

"Yes, Miss Chloe?" Maribel sounded like she was half asleep.

"Do we have pregnancy test in the-"

"I'm coming Miss Chloe!" The link end quickly. I sighed. Dammit now Momma-

"Chloe Lynn!" Momma burst through the door, scaring Jared.

"Jesus Christ!" Jared did a weird jumpoll and land in the floor on his face with a loud thud.

"Jared, get your ass off the floor and put some clothes on! Chloe Lynn! Come on, let's go to the bathroom." Momma grabbed my hand and pulled me into the other room and slammed the door.

"What the f**k just happened?" I heard Jared mutter.

"Watch your mouth!" Momma barked. "Here Chloe Lynn. Go pee on this."

"Momma, I can't go if your in here!"

"Chloe Lynn, don't you ruin this for me! Now, pee!" Momma commanded.

"Fine but for the love of God, turn around!" Momma huffed but turned around letting me pee on the little white stick in semi-privacy.

I did my business and sat the stick on the counter.

"It saids we have to wait thre-"

"Oh my God! It's positive! Do you see the little plus sign! I'm finally gettin' a grandbaby!" Momma opened the door and ran up to Jared pulling his face down and kissing him on the lips. Jared just stood, shocked, while Momma ran out the door and down the hall.

"What just happened?" He stared at me as I leaned on the bathroom door frame.

"Just give it a minute. You'll find out in just a-"

"WHAT?" I could hear my father's roar vibrate the house.

"Oh no. What did I do now?" Jared's eyes widened. We heard the thumping of my father's footsteps running through the house, getting louder as they got closer to my room. Within seconds he was standing in the door way to my room, his eyes bouncing between silver and electric green.

"What ever it is, I didn't do it." Jared said with his hands in the air.

"YOU KNOCKED UP MY DAUGHTER? WHEN I SPECIFICALLY TOLD YOU TO NOT TO?" Daddy roared. I rolled my eyes. Jared's jaw dropped.

"What?"

"I WARNED YOU BOY! I TOLD YOU-" he didn't have a chance to finish his though before Momma came in and pinched the back of his arm.

"Ouch! Goddammit woman!"

"Don't you come in here ruinin' this for me Joseph Wood! I've been waiting for this for ten years! Ten! And so help me Goddess if you take this from me by yellin' at that boy, so help me I'll bury you so deep the Goddess won't be able to find you!" Momma's eyes were flitting between black and ice blue. Daddy's face had paled. Momma had never spoken to him like that before.

"But Evie-"

"I SAID NO, JOSEPH! LEAVE HIM ALONE!" My father coward away from her.

"Alright, Evie, alright." With that my father lowered his head and walked out of the room. Momma closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths. When she opened her eyes they were back to her soft blue. She smiled at us.

"I'm so happy. Y'all get dressed and come on down. Need to feed my grandbaby!" Momma left closing the door behind her. Jared slowly turned to me.

"She scares me." He said quietly.

"Yea. Me too."

"Ha…" he started walking over to me. "So a little bird told me, we were having a baby." He kissed me.

"Oh yea? I wonder what little bird that was?"

"Some weird old lady. She kissed me, ya know?"

"My Momma's not weird!"

"A little weird…" he kissed me again.

"Fine! Maybe a little weird."

"You're a better kisser." He kissed me again.

"Ew jared!" He giggled and went into the bathroom.